Bolt-making machine



1; ALEDEN BOLT MAKING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED DECx 18| I91).

Patented May 31, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mmvrol? H N M T T H I. A. EDEN, JR. BOLT MAKING MACHINE. APPLICAHON FILIED 050.18, 1919.

1,380,047; Patented am, 1921.

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PATENT JAMES A. EDEN, Jn, 0E SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 wALrEn H.

I FOSTER, or NEW YORK, n. Y.'. Y

BOLT-MAKING MACHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Pmtgnted May 31 1921;

Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 345,708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. EDEN, Jr.,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the type commonly employed for making' staybolts and useful also in machines applied to the making of ordinary bolts.

Serlal No.

In my application for patent 290,071 for bolt machines I have shown a centering means engaging an intermediate portion. of the blank in the machine. My present invention includes an intermediate centering means of the same general character, but representing an improvement in detail, and includes also a supplementary guide or holder or centering device for, the end of the blankf The particular features of invention and improvement are referred to hereinafter and defined in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section above the cutter-head Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the centering means for the intermediate portion of the blank; 7

Fig. 4: is an elevation of the means for unlocking the same and swinging t outward from the work;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the end guide and turning blades Separate from the head 1n which they arecarried;

Fig. 6 is a section of 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the lower end of said guide, the plane of section being indicated at 77, Fig. 6;

Fig. dis a vertical section of the lower end of the guide when used in connection with chasers for threading a bolt.

Referring to the embodiment of the inven tion illustrated, the machine includes a outhe same on the line ter-head 1 reciprocable vertically between guides 2. This headmay carry turning.

cutters for turning the blank to a cylindrical] shape and to the dimensions requlred or for turning a thread on the blank; and the head may be raised and lowered by any usual or suitable means while the work is rotated; or the lnvention maybe applied to other usual or suitable types of bolt machine. For the case illustrated I have assumed that the headis lowered by gravity under hand control onto the upper end of a blank 3 and continues to be fed downward by gravity as the blank is rotated. The blank has a head} a'constantly rotating spindle 6 driven by any usual or suitable gearing in the body 7 of the machine and I'have also shown the cutter-head carrying turning cutters 8, the details of the mounting and adjustmentof these cutters being omitted for the sake of clearness and being in fact of any usual or suitable style.

41 mounted in a chuck 5 on the upper end of This is a common style of staybolt machine. In such machines the general prac-f tice; heretofore has been to drop the lower 1 end of the blank into a socket on the upper end of the rotating jspindle, the operator holding the blank upri with his hand until it 1s engaged by the cutter-head. 'The blanks are roughly shaped and are sometimes bent so that the cutters, engaging only the 1' upper end of the bolt,'have caused it 'to wabble and produce a conical shape on the upper end instead of the true cylindrical shape desired. This invention provides means forholding the blank central from the beginning of its engagement by the cutters and for determininga proper and accurate engagement of the cutters with the end of theblank. The axis of the chuck spindle 6 is in line with that of the cutter-head so that after the cutting operation commences there :will be practically no lateral movement'of the .blank. But the head of the blank. may

- initially be'out of center with its body, and

the chuck 6 is arranged to allow a certain lateral play of the headl of the blank as described and shown in detail in myappli cation Serial No. 290,07l,-above referred to. 1

The means for centeringthe blank between the chuck and cutter-head is, in the is mounted on the inner face of, one lofv the guide members 2. Theguide. member is 1 case illustrated, a swingingarm 9 which is mounted on a pivot 10 on a bracket 11 which formed with a groove 12 (Fig. 2), andthe bracketll has a rib 13 entering Said groove.

A bolt 14 with a head which isheld in the Q groove passes through the bracket 11 and is fastened by a nut 15 on the outer face thereof. Thus the bracket and centering device are made vertically adjustable so as to support the blank at any desired point in its height. The pivot 10 of the arm 9 carries a spring 16, the opposite end of which engages a fixed part of the bracket, the spring tending to throw the arm to the outward position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

This arm carries in its free end a holder comprising a pair of jaws for gripping and holding the blank 3. The jaw 17 is fixed in position, adjustable by means of clam ing screws 18 and 19. The jaw 20 is closet by means of a spring 21 and is flared on its outer end and yielda-ble so as to permit a blank 3 to be thrust into the space between the two jaws by a quick sidewise motion;

and also to permit the arm 9 to be swung outward from engagement with the blank and to get out of the path of the cutterafter the latter has commenced work on the blank.

The spring 16 tends to hold the arm outward, and in this position the blank 3 is introduced into the jaws 17 and 29. The grip of these jaws on the blank is compar tively slight. The operator, having hold of the blank located in the jaws pushes the blank and arm inward until the former is located over the chuck and then drops or forces the blank down against the slight grip of the jaws so that its head drops into the chuck. On theinward movement of the arm it is locked by engagement of a hook 22 carries thereon with a latch 23 carried by the bracket 11 and pressed outward by a spring24.

The die-head carries a cam 25 at one side and projecting down below the lower face of the head and moving in such a path as to strike the projecting end of the latch 23 permitting the latter to yield and let the arm fly out. The inner face of the jaw l? is approximately tangent to its circular path of movement (see the dotted arrow 17, Jig. 3) so that it will swing outward Without in terference from the blank 3. V

The arm 9 thus serves as a quick means by which an operator, almost with his eyes shut, can guide a blank to the central work' ing position and a holder into which a sec ond blank can be introduced ready for insertion as soon as the previous blank is completed and thrown out. For blanksof different lengths the bracket carrying the guide arm can be adjusted up or down as the case may require.

Instead of depending on the engagement of the end of the blank with the cutters themselves to center this end I propose also to provide the cutter-head with a centering means which shall bring the end of the blank to a central position before it is en gaged by the cutters. This centering means as shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 comprises a guide rod 26 extending down the center of the cutter-head with guiding wings or flanges 27 located between the inner edges of the blades 8 and having their lower ends tapered on their inner faces as at 28 so as to form a sort of cone with a central recess 29 at its upper end which fits easily over the end of the blank. The guide rod is provided at its upper end with a head or flange 30 which rests on the upper ends of the blades 8 (or on any other convenient elements of the die-head). I

Now as the die-head comes down on the blank the latter engages the bevels 28 on the lower ends of the wings of the guide rod and is centered in the socket 29. As the head continues to descend the guide rod continues to rest on the end of the blank and to hold it central while the cutters continue to travel downwar When the work is done the head is lifted the guide rod 26 rests in place until its head 30 strikes the topof the blades 28.

The length of the guide-rod and its wings or flanges will vary with the length of the cuttenhead. Chasers for thread cutting dies have usually short faces and the depth of the head and the length of the guide rod will accordingly be comparatively short. Turning cutters are of considerable variation in length of cutting face, and with such cutters the die-head and guide rod will be varied accordingly in vertical lengtl Some cuttenheads include both chasers and turning cutters, one set above the other, and the guide rod may be used equally with such a head. In some heads for turning cutters especiall there are used a number of turncutters ant a number of guides alternating and fixed in the head. With such a cutter-head the same guide rod may be used, the wings thereof lying between the successive cutters and guides, both of which I have included in the generic term blades.

Instead of shaping the guide rod illustrated with a solid center necessitating its resting on the end of the blank as the head moves down, the lower end may be made hollow for a considerable length, as by extending the socket 29 upward as indicated at 29 in Fig. 7. The guide will then pass down over the end of the blank as the cutter-head moves down, at the same time holding the end llil This guide for the free end of the blank a strong tendency to throw the end of theisto work more or less out of line.

say, it is seldom possible for all the chasers in a die-head to engage the work exactly at the same instant, and the first one to engage it has this tendency. Also it is more important to have the end properly centered to produce a truly cylindrical effect when this end of the bolt is a threaded one. 7

Where the centering device is a movable rod such as 26 which rests on the end of the blank while the die-head travels downward over the blank, it serves also as a knock out device. For example, in Fig. 1 1 have shown an abutment 32 fastened to the frame of the machine at such a point that when the die-head is lifted sufiiciently above theblank the abutment will strike the head or end 30 of the centering rod. After a turning or threading operation, although the head is opened and the cutters spread sufliciently to allow them to passfreely upward over the blank yet the blankoften sticks therein. \Vith the arrangement shown, a blank which sticks in the head as the latter is lifted'will be knocked out when the end. 30 of the centering rod strikes the abutment 32 and thus prevents the latter and the blank from moving upward with the cutter-head.

abutment 32 being omitted, the rod 30 may be used as a knock out, it being only neces sary in this case for the operator to strike the head 30 of this rod after the cutter-head has been lifted, to thus loosen and knock out the blank. Besides the sticking of the work in the cutter-head it is often necessary to remove chips which become lodged in the cutter-head. The same operations of the rod 26 which serve to knock out the work will serve also to clean out such chips.

For this purpose of knocking out the work or cleaning out the chips which lodge in the cutter-head the rod may be used without the flared socket at the lower end; although this shape is preferable since it seiwes the additional centering function described.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail certain specifiic embodiments of my invention yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular embodiments illustrated. Various modifications thereof in detail and in the arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a chuck having a vertical'axis and adapted to engage the blank and'means for centering the blank at a point between the chuck and the cutterhead, said means adapted to be moved to one position in which it embraces a blank and to a second position inwhich it centers the blank in an upright position between the chuck and the cutter-head and permits it to move vertically chuck. 7

2. V A machine for operating on bolt blanks into engagement with the or the like including in combination a chuck adapted to engage the blank and means for centering the blank at a point between the chuck and the cutter-head, said means adapted to be moved'to one position in which it embraces a blank and to a second position in-whichit holds the blank between the chuck and the cutter head, andmeans for.

central and .in another position'to be out of thepath of the' cutting means operating on the blank and adapted when in said second position to receive a second blank, and means for locking thecentering means in the first position until after the, blank is engaged by the-chuck and'cutter-head at opposite ends. Or, the

4. A; machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like-including a holder for a blank,

said holder being movable to and from a center ng position for the blank','and means for lockingitin thecentering position during apart of the cutting operation.

5. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in comb nation a vertical chuck and means for guiding an upright blank horizontally from a position outside of the line of work to a central working. position.

6. A machine foroperating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a holder :for a blank comprising a spring member adapted to permit a blank in an upright position to be easily thrust laterally into the holder by hand and adapted to hold the blank lightly so asto permit a vertical movement thereof in the holder and to permit the holder to be withdrawn easily from the blank, and an armcarrying said holder to and from a centering position for the blank. 7 A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a holder for a blank, said holder comprising a spring member adapted to yield and permit the removal of the holder in a lateral direction, an arm carrying said holder to and. from a centering position for the blank and a spring for moving the holder from said centering position and a lock for locking the holder in the centering position.

8. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a chuck adapted to engage the blank, means for engaging the blank at a point beyond said chuck to hold it central, and a cutter-head carrying means for centering the end of the blank in the cutters.

9. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a chuck adapted to engage the blank, means for enaging the blank at a point beyond said chuck to hold it central, and a cutter-head carrying means for centering the end ofthe blank in the cutters, said means for engaging the blank at a point beyond the chuck being movable after the cutter-head engages the blank.

10. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a a chuck, a cutter-head opposite the chuck having cutters therein and means carried by the cutter-head for centering the end of a blank before it is engaged by the cutters.

11. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a cutter-head having cutters therein and guides located in longitudinal lines between the cutters and in advance thereof for centering the end of a blank before it is engaged by the cutters.

12. A. machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a cutter-head having cutters therein and'a guiding rod located in the center of the head with wings located between the cutters, the lower end of said wings forming a flared socket to receive the end of a blank and center the same.

13. A machine for threading bolt blanks or the like including in combination a diehead carrying threading chasers therein and flared centering means carried by the die head for engaging the end of a blank and automatically centering it before it is engaged by the chasers.

1 1-. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a cutter-head having cutters therein for engaging the blank and a knock out device in said head adapted to rest on the end of the blank and to be moved longitudinally with relation to the cutter-head to remove the blank from the head.

15. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a cutter-head having cutters therein for engaging the blank and a knock out device in said-head adapted to rest on the end of the blank and to be moved longitudinally with relation to the cutter-head to remove the blank from the head, and an abutment adapted to strike and operate said knock out device when the cutter-head is retracted.

16. A machine for operating on bolt blanks or the like including in combination a cutter head having cutters therein and a chip cleaning device having portions lying between the cutters, said device being movable longitudinally with relation to the head so as to force out any chips which may be caught therein.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JAMES A. EDEN, JR. 

